Proto Mortuary Sword

Triarii · 7th December 2025, 11:03 AM

Jim, I really like your mortuary type sword with the thumb ring and no inner guard. There was one up for auction a few years back from that guy in Market Harborough who ran an antique shop and used to show people his own collection - they were all slightly coated in new red rust. I went for the Schiavona instead. Still kick myself.

Oddly, thumb rings are a continental thing, so seeing them on typically English hilts is odd. Having said that, the one in the Cleveland Museum of Art attributed to Fairfax has a thumb ring, as does one of the swords attributed to Cromwell in the museum in Huntingdon.

Urban - I've never heard the Islay thing before. Can you elaborate please?

PS I have one like the first of your photos, with the perforated shell guard. It caught my eye because of the cabalistic markings it had on the blade. They're reckoned to be continental in origin, apparently.

7th December 2025, 11:03 AM	#6
Triarii Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Bristol Posts: 161	Jim, I really like your mortuary type sword with the thumb ring and no inner guard. There was one up for auction a few years back from that guy in Market Harborough who ran an antique shop and used to show people his own collection - they were all slightly coated in new red rust. I went for the Schiavona instead. Still kick myself. Oddly, thumb rings are a continental thing, so seeing them on typically English hilts is odd. Having said that, the one in the Cleveland Museum of Art attributed to Fairfax has a thumb ring, as does one of the swords attributed to Cromwell in the museum in Huntingdon. Urban - I've never heard the Islay thing before. Can you elaborate please? PS I have one like the first of your photos, with the perforated shell guard. It caught my eye because of the cabalistic markings it had on the blade. They're reckoned to be continental in origin, apparently.